Methane content in coal seam is an essential parameter for the assessment of coalbed gas reserves and is a threat to underground coal mining activities. Compared with the adsorption-isotherm-based indirect method, the direct method by sampling methane-bearing coal seams is apparently more accurate for predicting coalbed methane content. However, the traditional sampling method by using an opened sample tube or collecting drill cuttings with air drilling operation would lead to serious loss of coalbed methane in the sampling process. The pressurized sampling method by employing mechanical-valve-based pressure corer is expected to reduce the loss of coalbed methane, whereas it usually results in failure due to the wear of the mechanical valve. Sampling of methane-bearing coal seams by freezing was proposed in this study, and the coalbed gas desorption characteristics under freezing temperature were studied to verify the feasibility of this method. Results show that low temperature does not only improve the adsorption velocity of the coalbed gas, but also extend the adsorption process and increase the total adsorbed gas. The total adsorbed methane gas increased linearly with decreasing temperature, which was considered to be attributed to the decreased Gibbs free energy and molecular average free path of the coalbed gas molecular caused by low temperature. In contrast, the desorption velocity and total desorbed gas are significantly deceased under lower temperatures. The process of desorption can be divided into three phases. Desorption velocity decreases linearly at the first phase, and then, it shows a slow decreases at the second phase. Finally, the velocity of desorption levels off to a constant value at the third phase. The desorbed coalbed gas shows a parabolic relation to temperature at each phase, and it increases with increasing temperature at the first phase, and then, it poses a declining trend with increasing temperature at the rest phases. The experimental results show that decreasing the system temperature can restrain desorption of coalbed methane effectively, and it is proven to be a feasible way of sampling methane-bearing coal seams.
The Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation in the south of Sichuan is a key player in the exploration and development of shale gas in China. Due to a highly complex topographic area, electromagnetic methods (EM) become important exploration means in this area. Many studies have been conducted on the shale mineral composition and electrical properties of shale, however, the correlation between sedimentary environments and the electrical properties of shale remain poorly understood. The electrical properties and sedimentary environment of the organic-rich shale of the Longmaxi Formation have been studied by means of X-ray diffraction, organic geochemistry, scanning electron microscopy and complex resistivity measurements. The discovered high quartz content of the Longmaxi Formation shale results in low resistivity. Deep-water shelf biogenic quartz contributes lower resistivity more than that of shallow-water terrigenous quartz. The deep-water anoxic and organic sedimentary environment led to major enrichment of pyrite, leading to a high polarization effect in shale. We present the correlation between the lithofacies types and electrical properties of Longmaxi Formation. The mixed siliceous shale lithofacies is the most favorable among the three lithofacies, which is characterized by high total organic carbon (TOC) content, high brittleness mineral content, high polarization and low resistivity (“three high and one low”). This feature is an effective identification of shale gas reservoirs by electromagnetic prospecting. Our study can provide constraints on electrical parameters of rocks for electromagnetic “sweet spot” exploration of shale gas, and so this has important geological significance to shale gas exploration and development. 相似文献
